Mayor de Blasio wants to spend more on salaries at private school bus companies. Photo: Robert Kalfus

Mayor de Blasio on Monday defended spending $42 million to prop up the salaries of seasoned drivers and other veteran school bus personnel by saying their experience is worth the extra taxpayer dollars.

The workers are all employed by private school bus companies, which negotiated a contract under the Bloomberg administration that paid them less after seniority protections were removed.

“You need experienced folks who know what they’re doing and preferably who know the children, the community [and] know the routes well,” de Blasio said, explaining why he wants to provide higher pay rates.

The City Council is holding a hearing on his proposal Tuesday and at least one lawmaker says he has strong reservations.

Vincent Ignizio (R-SI) questioned the city’s ability to create a grant program that would essentially restore veteran drivers, matrons and mechanics at private yellow bus firms to their former salaries.

“Using taxpayer dollars to pay private employees could raise serious legal red flags,” Ignizio told The Post. “Whether we like these contracts or not, the proper venue to address this is at the negotiating table when they are up for renewal, not with legislation that may circumvent state law.”